Mrs. Thelma Lois Carey

Thelma Lois Grover Carey, a longtime Miami resident passed away at Freeman Hospital in Joplin on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at the age of ninety-two. Mrs. Carey was born in Sedalia, Colorado on April 8, 1920, the daughter of Harry C. and Fannie (Taylor) Grover. They lived there and in Marshfield, Missouri before moving to Miami in 1929. Thelma Graduated from Miami High School with the class of 1937 and then attended Northeastern Oklahoma Junior College for one year. There she met Alvin E. Carey, and later they were married in Fort Scott, Kansas. To this union were born three children; Meredeth Lynn, Elaine Gail and Alan Grover Carey. The Careys lived in London England, for two years and in Germany at Rhein- Main Air Base for nineteen years where Al taught in Department of Defense dependent schools. During these years Thelma was active in the Protestant Women of the Chapel, including several years on the European Council as 2nd vice president. They retired to Miami in 1974. Thelma subsequently worked nine years at the Christian Bookstore. She has been active in the Miami Presbyterian Church, serving as a deacon, a choir member and in the women’s organization. She also served as a member of the hospital auxiliary and the Miami Travel Club. She had maintained a voluminous correspondence with the many friends made during their time overseas. Special friends here have been Charlene Lingo and members of the Renovare Group at her church. Mrs. Carey was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her daughter Elaine Dowell, her son Alan Carey, her sister Mary Lucile O’Neill, and her brother Stanley Grover. Survivors include her daughter Meredith Jackson of Gardner, Kansas, four grand-children; Randall Jackson, Prairie Village, Kansas, Barry Jackson, Edgerton, KS Beverly Werner, Lusby Maryland and Keith Dowell of Pearl Mississippi along with eight great grandchildren. There will be private family graveside services on Friday, June 8, 2012 at the Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery. There will be a time of visitation from 6:30 PM until 8:00 PM on Thursday, June 7, 2012 in the Cooper Memorial Chapel at the Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service. The family has asked that Memorial Contributions be made to First Presbyterian Church of Miami or the Higher Call Nursing Home in Quapaw. Services are under the direction of the Brown-Winters Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Miami.

Mrs. Thelma Lois Carey

April 8, 1920 - June 5, 2012